Tanning apparatus.



, 2 Sheets-Sheet las Patented Aug. I4, |900.

A. E. VIDAL.

TANNING APPARATUS.

(Application led Feb. 17, 1900.)

(No Model.)

me Nbnms Pinzas co, PHnr-LITND.. WASHINGTON. n. c,

Patented Aug. I4, |900. A. E. vmAL. TANNING APPARATUS.

(Application filed Feb. 17, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Moda.)

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5o Fig. 1.

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UNITED STATES f PATENT EEICE.

ADoLPI-i EDwARDHviDAL, or LoNDoN, ErreLArm.y,l

TANNING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 656,064, dated August 14, 1900.'

PPHGMOD filed February 17, 1900. Serial No. 5,648. (No model.)

To LZZ- whom t may concern:

Be it known that 1, ADOLPH EDWARD VIDAL, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, residing at 2O Central Hill, Norwood,.London, England, have invented an Improvement in Apparatus for Tanning Hides and Skins, (for which I have made application for Letters Patent in Great Britain, No. 25,188, dated November 29,1898; No. 9,114, dated May 1, 1899; No. 10,385, dated May 17, 1899, and No; 11,314, dated May 31, 1899,) of which the following is a specication.

My present invention relates to improvements in mechanical methods of tanning, more particularly to frames or gripping'devices .between which the hidesare gripped, in order that the tan liquor may be introduced into the space between a folded lhide or between hides, so that it may percolate through' between which the hides were gripped, forming a rectangle, (or when the hide was doubled three sides of a rectangle,) a considerable portion ofthe hide at thetail endhad to be cut off or left to remain outside of the frame, thus reducing the size and weight of the tanned butt. v Again, it was either necessary to have theframes of various sizes, so as to accommodate different-sized hides or butts, or to make the frames of a comparativelysmall size, which caused considerable waste.

when a large butt was tanned. Another defect wasthat the hide being unsupported in close proximity to the gripping-strips tended to stretchand lose its shape around the edges.

To obviate the abovementioned defects is the purpose of my present invention.

In order to more fully describe my said invention, reference will be first had to the accompanying drawings, in which-f Figure 1 shows an elevation of one of the frames which Iopropose to employ. Fig. 2

Fig. 3 represents a transverse section on the line 1 2 of Fig. 11 is a similar section of two frames clamped together containing a hide 'frames together eration.

or skin. Fig. 5 is an edge View. Figs. 6 and 7 represent-longitudinal sections on the line A B, the latter View showing two frames containing a hide clamped together. Fig. 8 is a detail view of the means of clamping two Fig. 9 shows another form of the gripping-pieces. Fig. 10 is a transverse section of Fig. 9. Fig. 11 represents a section showing the grooved and perforated back-board.v Fig. 12 shows amethod of clamping together a series of frames; andFig. 13

is an enlarged sectional view on the line C D gf'lFig. 9, showing the gripping edges in devReferring iirst to the form of inyinvention shown in Figs. 1 to 8, in these views f represents the back-boards, which are here shown as being grooved. The purpose of these backboards is to prevent the sagging of the hides while being tanned, thereby preserving the shape of the hide throughout the tanning op- Surrounding these back-boards are the cross-pieces e, running transversely of the frame. Upon three sides of the said frame beveled strips c are provided,`these strips'being also grooved. Surrounding thel outer edge and projecting above the said grooved strips c are thefgripping-pieces b, which are preferably made of brass or other acid-resisting material. h represents lugs at one end 'of theframe, through which bolts g are adapted to'pass when the frame is secured together. t' represents holes through the gripping-pieces on one 'side of 'the frame, through whic'hfthe pipes'k 'are ladapted to pass, for supplying vliquor to the inside of the hide Whenthe'latter is 'in position in the frame.

The frames abovev described are made' in pairs in such a manner that when they are superposed the gripping-pieces-coincide with each other.

The method of Vusing the above-described frames is as follows: The hides having been prepared in the usual way for the process'of tanning, the'butt is cut out and folded in half lengthwise. Its'edges are then gripped between V'a pair of frames, Vso that the pip'es'cz enter between the folded butt. Tan liquor is supplied to one of the pipes 7c from any suitable source of supply that is capable of maintaining a uniform flow, so that the pres- IOO sure may be constant throughout the tanning operation. I prefer that the pressure shall be sli ght,as excessive pressure has been found in practice to produce bad leather. On commencing the operation the air-tube is opened and liquor is allowed V`to enter the bag formed by the folded butt until it is entirely filled, when the air-tube is closed and the lateral pressure causes the liquor to percolate through the pores of the hide. I prefer to immerse the frames in tan liquor during the process of t-anning. In this case the backboards fshould be perforated, as shown in Fig. 1l. Care should be taken that the internal pressure is always in excess of the external pressure, so that liquor will percolate through the pores of the hide from the inside.

In order to make the frames suitable for various-sized butts, I may make either or both of their ends adjustable, such a form being shown in Figs. 9 to 13, and will be hereinafter referred to.

It has been found preferable to corrugate the surfaces of the beveled portions of the pieces c or in some cases I may fasten thin corrugated brass or other metal not attacked by tannic acid upon bevels with smooth surfaces. These back-boards f may be formed of wood, metal, or other suitable material, grooved or corrugated.

Referring now to the form shown in Figs. 9 to 13, in these views is shown another form of frame which is so constructed that the parts thereof (shown separatelyin Fig. 9) may be set together so as to suit the requirements of any-sized hide, this gripping-frame being secured in the backing u and then submerged in the vat, tanning liquor being also supplied to the inside of the hide, as in the first-mentioned instance. m m show the grippingpieces for gripping a folded hide or butt, these gripping-pieces being composed of three separate portions, each provided with means for securing the saine in any desired position. It will be seen that t-he gripping-piece for the tail is shaped to the contour of the tail end of the butt when folded. These grippingpieces may be made of metal, wood, glass, or any other suitable material. The inner surfaces of the gripping-pieces m are beveled and grooved so as to allow the liquor to percolate through the portions of the hide or butt coming in contact with these surfaces. n, shows lugs formed on the pieces m m, provided with holes for bolting the two sets of gripping-pieces together when the folded hide or butt is between them. 0 shows semicircular depressions in the pieces Am, so placed that when the two pieces m are superposed with the hide or butt between them a pipe may be passed through so as to come in between the folded butt or hide, a similar pipe being provided for the other hole for the exit of air. 1 shows back-boards, which may be similar to those described in connection with Figs. l to 8, but are preferably both grooved and perforated to. allow free access of tanning liquor to both sides of the hide. In using this apparatus the hide is first prepared in the ordinary way for tanning, the oal is cutoff, and the remaining butt is folded over lengthwise. The edges are then gripped between the pieces m m. This is eected by placing the pieces in position, one set under the folded butt and the other set over it, so that the edges are gripped between the gripping-pieces m m, which are then bolted together tightly. The whole is then suspended in a tank or pit between two of the grooved boards r, as shown in Fig. 9. A pipe is then passed through the hole o and is connected with the suitable source of supply and the operation is the same as in the preceding case.

In Fig. 11 the boards r are perforated aswell as grooved, so that when the tank or pit u is supplied with tan liquor this liquor will come in contact with the outside of the folded hide. The internal pressure should be in excess of the pressure exerted upon the hide from the liquor in the tank, as in preceding instance. The boards r are held in position by blocks w in such a way that the grooved surfaces may come next to the butts. The liquor which percolates through passes down the grooves and out through the perforations.

During the process of tanning Vthe butts should be taken out in order to examine them and clean out any refuse that may have accumulated. Hides by this process may be tanned'in from two to four weeks, according to their thickness.

Although I have stated that the hides or butts are doubled over lengthwise, it is obvious that two open hides or butts may be superposed and gripped between suitably-shaped frames or gripping-pieces; but I prefer to double the hides or butts, so as to economize space and facilitate handling.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. In an apparatus for tanning, a rectangular gripping-frame, one side of said frame being provided with a gripping edge adapted to conform to the shape of the tail end of the hide, substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus for tanning, a rectangular gripping-frame composed of parts which may be adjusted relatively to each other, one side of said frame being provided with a gripping edge adapted to conform to the shape of the tail end of a hide, substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus for tanning, the combination of a gripping-frame, rectangularin its general outline, but having one end shaped to conform to the shape of the tai] end of the hide, and a backing for said frame, substantially as described.

4. In .an-apparatus for tanning, the combination of a gripping-frame, rectangular in its general outline, but having one end shaped IOO to conform to the shape of the tail end of a hide, and a grooved or corrugated backing for said frame, substantially as described.

5. In an apparatus for tanning, the combi- 5 nation With a gripping-frame, of perforated back-boards for said gripping-frame, substantially as described.

6. In an apparatus for tanning, the combination With a gripping-frame, of grooved and Io perforated baclcboards for said grippingfraine, substantially as described.

7. In an apparatus for tanning, the combination of a detachable and adjustable'gripping-frame, one of the parts of said frame be; ing shaped to conform to the shape ofthe tail end of a hide, substantially as described.

8. In an apparatus for tanning, the combination of a detachable and adjustable gripping-frame, one of the parts of said frame being shaped to coliform to the shape of the tail end of a hide, and a backing for said grippingframe, substantially as described.

ADOLPH EDWARD VIDAL.

Witnesses:

J. M. LANDON, WALTER EVERETT. 

